A boatload of wine
2016 Bodegas Naia Las Brisas Verdejo (Rueda, Spain)… $12.
Aromas of banana nut bread, lemon, wet stone and tangerine. Fresh on the palate with notes of crushed rock, white flowers, tangerine and lemon. Nice clean finish with hits of beeswax and lemon notes lingering. (B-/B)
2015 Cantine Colosi Salina Rosso (Salina, Italy)… $24.
Aromas of earth, dark red flowers, licorice and dark cherries with the dirt notes lingering. Smooth and structured on the palate with sweet tannins and a touch of old world funk. Notes of earth, dark currants and a little chocolate with a slight background of salal leaf coming through on the back-end. White pepper notes hit on the finish, joined by minerals and currants. A little dusty on the back of the finish. 50% Nerello Mascalese, 50% Nerello Cappuccio (B+)
2016 Colosi Nero D’Avola (Terre Siciliane, Italy)… $14.
A little stink action on the nose, joined by notes of earth, subdued herbs, beets and dark red flowers. Ripe cherry notes on the front of the palate with a kiss of currants. Wet stone and dark red flower notes ride underneath with the slightest kiss of white pepper into the finish where leather notes join up and linger with a hint of earth. (B/B+)
2015 Colosi Rosso (Terre Siciliane, Italy)… $10.
Crushed red brick on the nose joined by notes of red flowers, raspberries and cherries. Red brick notes, blended with raspberries and cherries on the palate front to finish with a slight kiss of cinnamon coming through. Chocolate notes sneak in finishing with a good dose of red flowers. 85% Nero D’Avola, 15% Nerello Cappuccio (B)
2016 Colosi Salina Bianco (Sicily, Italy)… $24.
Aromas of crushed rock, fresh mushrooms, fig, salt and melons. Crushed rock, figs and melon on the palate joined by a peach/apricot component. Sweet fig notes dominate front to finish where white pepper notes join up and linger. Nice weight in the mouth yet stays fresh. 50% Inzolia, 50% Catarrato (B/B+)
2016 Colosi Grillo (Sicily, Italy)… $13.
Rosemary and tarragon on the nose, joined by hits of wet stone, melon and hits of white flowers. A solid lemon hit on the front of the palate, melding into a saline/orange flower blossom blend. Fresh on the palate with a saline element that lies underneath and shows up on a lingering finish. A very savory, earthy white that keeps it fresh at the same time. (B)
2016 Colosi Bianco (Terre Siciliane, Italy)… $10.
Wet stone, melon, melon rind and white flowers on the nose. A nice core of minerality backs notes of fig, melon and slight banana notes. Acidity keeps it fresh, but is not dominate. There is a spine of salinity, giving it some complexity. Good balance. 40% Inzolia, 40% Cataratto, 20% Grillo (C+/B-)
2015 Chateau Hauchat “LaRose” Fronsac (Bordeaux, France)… $17.
Aromas of dirt, licorice, cinnamon and a background of cherries. Smooth, fleshy tannins support solid notes of earth, cherries and tobacco. Still a little youthful but open enough to show its potential. Brooding fruit notes lie underneath leading into a long, earth driven finish. 2015 is a great vintage out of Bordeaux and this is just one of many examples of what you can get from this vintage for a prayer. 100% Merlot (A)
2015 Terres Falmet Cinsault Pays D’Oc (france)… $14.
Aromas of bark, wet stone, violets, cherry pie and hints of black raspberries. Solid structure and gritty tannins back notes of crushed rock and bark with hits of both tart and ripe cherries blended with a little earth and white pepper. Good balance with solid old world coming through. There is enough fruit to keep most palates happy. (B-/B)
2015 Trisaetum Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley, OR)… $26.
Quite perfumed on the nose lifting notes of mushroom, cherries, Root Beer and red flowers, with a pinch of tea and earth. Smooth and polished on the palate with an earthy edge. Notes of cherries, Asian spices and a kiss of Root Beer come through on solid structure and nicely integrated acidity. Seductive and a little dirty with a long-ass finish. (A-/A)
2017 Eyrie Rose` of Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley, OR)… $26.
Aromas of cherries and watermelon with just a hint of stink. Earth driven on the palate with notes of cherries and watermelon backed by underlying mineral and white pepper notes. Cherry notes hit big on the mid-palate into the finish with underlying watermelon and white pepper notes. (B+/A-)
Non-Vintage Col Mesian Brut Rose` Cuvee (Veneto, Italy)… $13.
Very slight stone and strawberry notes on the palate. Solid bubbles support strawberry and plum notes front to finish. Good acidity and structure with a kiss of minerals. (C+/B)
2014 Gard Vintners “Don Isidro” Lawrence Vineyards Red (Columbia Valley, WA)… $20.
Perfumed currants, violets, tobacco and natural licorice notes on the nose. Plush currant notes on the palate with a good dose of BBQ spices. Tight tannins on this baby. It starts to open up than goes tight again. Chocolate and tobacco notes sneak in on the mid-palate into the finish where BBQ spices show themselves once again on a tight finish. Needs 5-8 years to really show itself properly. 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Syrah, 18% Merlot, 7% Malbec (B/B+)
Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man
